FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Eastern Kentucky 2, Tennessee Tech 1
Belmont 3, @Eastern Illinois 1
@Morehead State 2, Jacksonville State 1
@SIUE 2, Murray State 1 (2OT)
UT Martin 2, @Southeast Missouri 1
EASTERN KENTUCKY 2, TENNESSEE TECH 1
RICHMOND, Ky. - In less than ideal conditions, the Eastern Kentucky University soccer team won a match it desperately needed, as two second-half goals by freshman Emmi Carroll propelled the Colonels to a 2-1 victory over Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee Tech on Friday afternoon at EKU Soccer Field.
It was EKU’s (3-8-1, 1-1-1 OVC) first win since August 29.
A steady rainfall and sparse downpours occupied nearly the entire match against the Golden Eagles (2-10, 0-3 OVC). With EKU down, 1-0, five minutes into the second half, Carroll tied the match with a 15-yard shot that sailed past Tennessee Tech’s keeper Rebecca Toler. Senior Emily D’Italia and sophomore Cassie Smith combined to assist on the goal.
Eighteen minutes later, at the 20-minute mark of the second half, another D’Italia corner kick went to junior Merrissa Vault, who set up Carroll for the close-range game-winner.
Tennessee Tech struck first in the rain with a goal in the 24th minute by Katie Phillips. Eastern nearly evened the score at one shortly before halftime on a shot from freshman Jordan Foster to the right side of the Tennessee Tech goal, but it was saved by Toler. The Golden Eagles took a 1-0 lead into intermission.
EKU freshman keeper Anna Hall contributed six saves to a strong defensive effort from the Colonels. The Golden Eagles only took five shots in the second half.
The win gave EKU its first OVC win of the season, and Carroll feels it will propel them forward as the end of the regular season approaches.
The Colonels will be back in action at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5, against Jacksonville State.
BELMONT 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1
CHARLESTON, Ill. - For the second consecutive game, Eastern Illinois women's soccer tied its league opponent midway through the first half, but still fell by a 3-1 score. This time the Friday afternoon loss came via league foe Belmont.
Due to recent heavy rain in the area, the contest was relocated to the nearby EIU practice fields while both squads battled a steady gusty wind, chilly temperatures and late-game heavy precipitation.
With the loss, the Panthers drop to 1-10-1 overall and 0-3 in OVC action, while Belmont improved to 4-3-4 on the year and 1-0-2 in league play.
Belmont freshman Tara Austin got the Bruins on the board first at the 24-minute mark as she was fed the ball by junior Cassie Blase in front of the goal for the score.
Panther senior Meagan Radloff knotted the game 19-minutes later just before hafltime, as she drilled an unassisted shot over heads of the Belmont defenders from nearly 40 feet away, earning an assist from the gusting wind.
Less than a minute into the second frame, however, the visitors retook the lead off a Panther own goal, while Austin found the back of the net yet again for a security goal for Belmont at the 56th minute.
EIU junior Hannah Miller led all Panthers with three shots, while Belmont senior Allie Hicks paced her squad with four shots on the day.
Team-wise, Belmont out-shot the Panthers, 17-to-12, which included a 10-to-six advantage for shots-on-goal. EIU finished with two more corner kicks then the Bruins (six-to-four), and also led, seven-to-five, in total saves.
MOREHEAD STATE 2, JACKSONVILLE STATE 1
MOREHEAD, Ky. - The Morehead State soccer team rallied for a 2-1 Ohio Valley Conference victory against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on a rainy Friday night at Jayne Stadium.
Morehead State improved to 7-2-4 overall, 2-0-1 in the league and 5-0-0 at home. The Gamecocks slipped to 5-7-0 overall, 1-2-0 in the OVC and 2-7-0 away from Jacksonville, Ala. Morehead State now leads the series 9-1-2 and is 8-0-2 against JSU in the last 10 meetings.
MSU only allowed one shot in the first half and just five for the match, but the lone JSU attempt in the opening half found the back of the net. Lindsey Jackson netted her first goal of the season at the 6:19 point. Following a rebound, she looped a shot over MSU junior goalkeeper Kaitlynn Murphy.
MSU senior midfielder Paige Weber scored the equalizer with one second remaining in the opening half. After a furious battle in front of the JSU net, Weber slipped a shot past Gamecock goalkeeper Meara Johnson.
The Eagles tallied the match winner just three minutes into the second half. Senior forward Macy Cobb finished a point-blank opportunity after assists from senior forward Jade Flory and sophomore forward Angela Black. It marked Cobb's fourth goal of the season, the 13th of her career and her third match-winning score this year.
Black was credited with her third assist, while Flory's helper was her team-high sixth. Flory moved into fifth place in career points at MSU with 53.
Morehead State out-shot the visitors 18-5 and generated nine corner kicks. Johnson stopped seven MSU shots. Murphy started for the first time this season and tallied one save.
SIUE 2, MURRAY STATE 1
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Samantha Jones netted a ball in the 105th minute in the 2-1 double overtime thriller against Murray State.
It didn't take long for the Cougars to score their first goal of the game. Freshman Emily Grahl scored her second goal of the season seven minutes into the game from 15 yards out. Katye Skrivan and Kassidy Rawdon assisted the goal.
SIUE went into the half up 1-0 and dominating the game, outshooting the Racers 9-5. In the 59th minute, Taylor Stevens scored the equalizer for Murray State on a Julie Mooney assist.
The score remained tied throughout regulation and the first overtime. SIUE senior Samantha Jones netted a ball from 20 yards out after a Michelle Auer corner kick in the 105th minute to win the game in double overtime for the Cougars. The goal is the first for Jones this season.
SIUE outshot the Racers 19-7. Jennifer Pelley notched three saves on the game.
The Cougars improve to 5-4-1 on the season and a perfect 2-0 in conference play.
UT MARTIN 2, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (4-4, 1-1 OVC) fell 2-1 to UT Martin (8-4, 2-1) on Friday evening in a tightly-contested conference matchup at Houck Stadium. All three goals were scored in the final 15 minutes, including two in the last 5:01.
Through the first 75 minutes, the match was a defensive showdown with both sides shutting down scoring chances. F Rianna Jarrett broke the scoreless tie by converting a penalty kick at the 75:04 mark. Before the kick, Southeast D Paige Luehmann prevented a goal in the box but was called for a handball, which resulted in a red card and the Redhawks having to compete with 10 players for the final 14:56.
Despite being down a player, Southeast answered right back with 5:01 remaining when MF Torey Byrd scored on a header that was assisted by F Natasha Minor. It was Byrd's second goal of the season and Minor's team-leading fourth assist.
With just 2:09 left in the contest, D Amy Maksimowicz broke away for UT Martin and found the top right corner of the net to push the score to 2-1 in the Skyhawks favor.
The Redhawks outshot UT Martin 8-6 on the evening, including a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal.
Minor posted a game-high four shots and tied Byrd with a game-best two shots on goal. GK Kindra Lierz made one save and the Southeast defensive back line continually prevented scoring chances.
Jarrett led UT Martin with three shots. GK Mariah Klenke finished with a game-high four saves.